Lead Well. Lead Onward.

Everything rises and falls on leadership.

The truth of this statement has been proven over time in a variety of different settings. There are undoubtedly other factors involved in the rise and fall of organizations, teams, and local churches. However, there is no question leadership tops that list.

Deeply connected and rooted in being a great leader is our ability to develop other leaders. The development of talented, gifted, passionate, and more effective leaders is a big part of ensuring long-term impact and growth for our teams.

How Is Leadership Development Going For You?

From time to time, it is healthy to push pause and reflect on how we are doing in this important area of our work and ministry. Take a few minutes right now to stop and evaluate how you are doing at developing others. Here are four questions to help guide you:

1. Are You Intentional In Leadership Development?

It probably goes without saying it, but it is impossible for leaders to develop without some focused attention and consistent energy. There needs to be a steady rhythm. If it isn’t consistently landing on your task list and calendar, then your desire to develop others lacks intentionality. 

2. For What Purpose Are You Developing A Particular Leader?

Do you see potential in someone as being a church planter? Are you trying to raise up and train a new staff member? Is your primary objective discipleship to see that person rise up and disciple multiple other people? It is important to have clarity on the “why,” or you and your leader may find yourselves stuck in the muck of frustration. Also, being clear on why you are developing leaders and for what purpose helps create a healthy leadership pathway.

3. Do you have a plan?

Developing a leadership pathway helps you stay focused on what the goals or key milestones should be for that particular leader. As each goal is reached, new responsibilities and authority can be given. Knowing the goals for your leaders paves the way for you to put the right lessons, experiences, and tools in place for your leaders that they may reach their destination with success.

The pathway for various types of leaders you are cultivating may vary. For instance, if you are raising up the next staff member, their leadership pathway may look a lot different from the pathway of someone you’re leading into multiplication or church planting. That means leadership development must begin with the end in mind.

4. Are you developing as a leader?

This might be the most important question we have asked so far. Craig Groeschel says it this way, “When the leader gets better, everyone gets better.” How true is that?! So, are you getting better? How are you getting better? If we are not getting better as leaders our ability to develop others will eventually hit a wall. This will prevent our ability to scale to greater levels of kingdom impact. That is true for us and those we lead.

Again, everything rises and falls on leadership.

So, how are you growing your capacity to lead, and how are you helping your team do the same? How we answer this question will have a big-time impact on the road ahead for you and me.

Lead well. Lead onward!